In these trying times, it is indeed a great blessing for an
individual to be bestowed with the gift of Islam, and all that comes
with it.

Entering the fold of Islam and reciting the ‘Shahadah’
(declaration of the oneness of Allah), not only cleanses the heart but
your body and soul as well; it is a spiritual awakening like no other.

One must always be grateful to Allah for bestowing him/her with the truth and light of Islam, irrespective of whether you’re a new Muslim or an old one.

Over
time, a new Muslim comes to understand the beauty and perfection of the
religion of Allah and continues to increase in faith, which in turn
brings him/her closer and closer to the ultimate aim of our religion:
nearness to Allah...

Those
who have not experienced this emotional release have trouble
understanding the deep response felt by those who repeat the Shahadah
(testimony of faith) and find themselves part of the world wide Muslim
community.

Many converts to Islam have described their experience.
“And I was so overwhelmed with love for Him (God) and appreciation at
all the beauty He has created that I burst into tears.”

“It is a
very emotional moment to come to this realization and finally calling
yourself a Muslim and submitting yourself to God…”...

The beauty of Islam penetrated your heart and, through Allah
Almighty’s infinite wisdom, He chose you to be counted amongst the
Muslims. As a new Muslim, you’re like a blank canvas just waiting to be
‘painted’ in the beautiful colors of faith, obedience and righteousness.

This
time in your life is both precious and precarious. Tread carefully, as
you begin to learn more about your faith and seek knowledge.

It’s
easy to find credible sources of Islamic knowledge. However, it’s even
easier to find unreliable sources of information that appear Islamic but
are really steeped in disbelief and shirk, or ascribing partners to Allah.

Fortify your faith with the top five books to quench your thirst for knowledge and help construct a solid foundation of learning that you can build upon over the course of a lifetime...

Finally, the awaited day has arrived. The first Umrah for both Nura
and Maggie. Maggie has recently reverted to Islam, but it is not clear
for her what the Sunnah really means and how she should follow it. Nura
is a teenage Muslim girl. She was born as a Muslim, but there is still much for her to learn.

Nura
has always heard the word Sunnah at her home from her Muslim parents
and brothers and thinks that the Sunnah is to have a long beard, among
other fiqhi details. An opportunity to connect with Prophet Muhammad
through visiting Madinah and Makkah is exactly what they both need.

Getting Prepared for the Umrah and Meeting at the Airport

They
had made sure to pack all the necessary stuff for Umrah. “It will be
quite hot,” cautioned Maggie’s Muslim friend Amina. “Make sure you have
sunscreen, and a summer hat.”

Nura’s Mum had packed her suitcase
for her as she had been to Umrah previously and knew what was the most
necessary stuff to take along.

“Is everyone here?” Asked the group leader.

“Let’s
embark on this remarkable journey insha’Allah. Everyone was so excited
as this most of the first Umrah for most of them. They all got on the
plane after farewells to their loved ones.

It was going to be a
long journey, but a very rewarding one they had heard from those who had
the opportunity to have already made that visit. They had read a lot of
material and watched documentaries on Umrah to get prepared...

Being truthful, this is what Christmas is all about for most families. It’s the one day of the year when everyone is off work and available to be together.

My only problem with dinner was that it wasn’t halal.

The
solution? Halal turkeys are a thing! A very popular thing as it
happens. Imagine my surprise when I had to join a very long queue at the
halal food shop for a turkey.

Knowing that I am Muslim,
my family omit any pork from their Christmas Day menu; so no pigs in
blankets, a vegetarian stuffing and no roast ham. My family really don’t
mind, we all enjoy a hearty meal and appreciate each others’ company.
They don’t put any alcohol on the table either, opting for sparkling
fruit juice.

If your family are aware of your requirements, they will likely oblige, if it means, the pleasure of your company...

Christmas is a time for family. It always has been and it always will
be. I am not from a religious family, we never went to church, unless
it was for a wedding or a funeral, and we never celebrated Christmas in a
religious way.

When I was younger it was all about seeing
aunties, uncles and cousins, who you just don’t get to see for the vast
majority of the year. I always looked forward to the whole family just
sitting together, eating dinner and having fun...

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